What exciting growing "projects" do you have on the go?

" the second year can be glorious"

You got some cuttings, taken from first year's flowering growth? Otherwise they are going to be monster-tall aren't they?

(I'm thinking they won't flower until 8' or so, and if you cut them back for year-2 they won't flower as that wood will still be "juvenile", but I may well be talking out of my wrong-end !!)

"... Canna tuerchheimii, Echium snow tower, Echium wildpretti, Gloriosa rothschildiana, ... Rhodochiton atrosanguineu ..."

Jealous !! and for the rest I have no idea what they are, but if I did I'm sure I'd be jealous of them too !!

 

The brugs will only flower once the main stem forks .This hieght can vary from a couple of feet upwards ..So if you prune down to below the fork you are starting again .. I now take 15/18in mature cuttings to include the fork and they seem to be flowering . I do also take other cuttings to grow on ....

Dave

 

My new projects . are exhibition Gladioli, Chrysanthemums and Dahlias . I used to exhibit over 30 yrs ago so have decided to start again now I've retired and have the time ..Dahlia tubers are on the hot bed as are the Chrysanths ,to push out some early cuttings . Glad corms on awaiting arrival ...
I also intend to hybridise a few fuchsias ,which again something I have never had time to do before ..
So a busy season ahead

Dave

 

Kristen - you are right. Full sized plants in their second year are likely to be pretty large. On my seed grown plants the forks typically appeared around 5 feet or so. I have kept some (cut back) and will see how they do in the second year.

I have also taken some cuttings from above the fork. Previous cuttings have flowered pretty early and produced some wonderful flushes - but they branch too low and don't get that tall. I am going to try and train one or two of my cuttings as standards.

I think Dave has got the right idea of taking big cuttings. Someone on another forum said his largest was a five foot cutting. With such large flowers, I think you want a 5 or 6 foot plant to look right.

Dave - I am interested in getting Dahlias out of bed. Do I understand that you have them on a heating pad. What temperature do they need to kickstart and when do you do it and how long do they take? Is there any reason why you can't use a heating pad to get others off to an early start like Cannas - assuming you have got a good light level?

 

A labour of love, with cracking results if it goes well. FingersCrossed for you

I'll see if I can find a picture of a Japanese show Chrysanthemum just to give you something to aim at

 

Chrysanthemums In Japan | The Garden Lady

 

Now they are stunning. Well worthy of an OMG (Oh my god).

 

I spent yesterday on my project of digitizing my CD collection - I have over a thousand to sort out and get through. So I need to do a catch-up in one post.

Simbad - have a good holiday! I'll try to remember to pm you in a couple of weeks re the plants that I have for you.

Doug - good luck this year! Bear in mind my warning about seed growing though - it can get addictive! Before you know where you are you'll be scouring the net for more exotic and unusual seeds than the last, and it just snowballs!! I have some interesting Digitalis seeds that I could post to you - as biennials they could be sown May time to grow on ready for next year. PM me if you're interested.

Dim - time to start growing in pots then! Bulbs such as Eucomis, Galtonia, Bessera and Arisaema are ideal pot specimens and can just be tossed into the garage shed or even loft for the winter.

PeterS - you have some lovely specimens on the go, especially the Sesbania punicea!

Davyg - good luck at the shows! From what I've gathered it's a full on commitment. Good luck with the hybrid Fuchsia too.

Armandii - having seen your photos I wonder where you will find the space!!!!!!

Kristen - those photos are amazing and get a second OMG!

 

I'd love to have just-an-inkling of how they do that ... all from a single plant. Imagine that just one of the blooms is a "bit short" ... you'd have to top yourself, eh?!!

 

Missed your reply earlier, hence only just replying

You'll enjoy the Brugs. Don't lick the leaves though!

OMG! I'm one of the most faffiest faffers I know ... but that's way too much faffing effort! for me ... when I was doing some gardening stuff in Japan I was offered an apprenticeship for a "Landscaper" which was all about learning the Zen of shape and pruning, and probably nothing about watering and feeding! I think the minimum course was 999 years :(

"Live long and prosper" is all the advice I can give you!

"I'm more apprehensive than excited about how my tropicals have fared through this cold spell. Next year I will have to improve my protection ideas because I'm loosing sleep."

I thought the photos of your Exotics looked fabby last year. If you are looking for inspiration there are some YouTube videos of folk in Canada protecting their exotics - stout Frames with Kingspan or somesuch, and a little pothole removable window so they can check on them, and probably a light-rope or pipe-warming-cable or similar; I'm sure Mrs JWK will be very impressed to look out onto a garden of "modern art" all Winter!. But given how long your conservatory took you'd better start mate or you won't be ready for next Winter !!!!

 

Peter, just wondering whether you sandpapered the seed first? Do you intend to grow this as a conservatory plant? I have heard that it's more the winter wet rather than the frost (unless prolongued or severe) that kills it over winter here. Apparently it's possible to graft onto a more wet tolerant Hibiscus and I've often wondered about this as I've had a soft spot for these plants ever since seeing one in a conservatory at a place I used to work.

 

I had a Alyogyne hueegelii for a few years and did root some cuttings one year. I kept it very dry in the winter and my greenhouse is around 9c ...Had it outside during the summer . Beautiful flowers .Sadly on my mass culling this autumn it went..Never tried from seed though ..

Dave

 

I've just ordered lots of bedding/basket plug plants, due the end of march...Fuchias,salvia,wall flowers,lobelia,sweetpeas,begonias,asters,pinks,petunias,million bells and a few more lol.
My garden is all container/baskets etc... and hoping to enter the local in bloom comp again this year, so i'l be well busy with 200 plus plugs coming next month!!
Nothing adventurous really,but i love to see how they'll some on, plus need to plan out a theme,has the judges have asked for it to be a celebration of colour and incl the themes of 'olympics' & the jubilee...

 

Hi Peter .You should have a good show with your Brugs this year . and plenty of young plants on the go if all that seed germinates .
I have the Dahlia tubers in indivigual pots and on the heat pad at 21c ..
They have been on two weeks tomorrow and are showing roots and a couple have a few eyes showing green .. They are there as I want to bulk up plant numbers .I will take the cuttings at about 3ins just above the node, and they they should reshoot quickly for some more ..My chrysanthemums are nearly ready to take and they were on three weeks ago .
Can't see any problem with kick starting the Cannas if you have the room .
I have Fuchsia and Heliotrope cuttings on mine plus a few Brugs
The only one I have trouble rooting with the large cuttings are the Variagated one

Hi Kristen.
Those trained Mums certainly are amazing I have seen some of those 'Fantasies' type for sale ..Might be tempted to ordering a few

Dave